Breaking new ground in forestry
AS a small boy, I spent a lot of my time playing with my friends in a large woodland just across the road from where I grew up. Climbing up into trees, building tree huts and falling back out of those trees was great fun. Maybe that’s where my love of trees came from and the idea that forestry as a career would be brilliant.
Working in the forest industry gives you the potential to work outdoors in many different countries while doing a rewarding and satisfying job in a healthy environment.
If you’re interested in working in the forest industry, where do you start? Education is the key to unlock these work opportunities.
You can study forestry in Cavan, Waterford and Dublin. The Teagasc College in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan (www.teagasc.ie) offers a highly practical education and training programme (QQI Levels 5 and 6). Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT, www. wit.ie) offers a fulltime three year forestry ordinary degree programme (QQI Level 7) and a one year add-on honours degree course (QQI Level 8). University College Dublin (UCD, www. UCD.ie) offers a fulltime four year forestry honours degree programme (QQI Level 8) as well as masters degree and doctoral degree opportunities (QQI Levels 9 and 10 respectively).
You may have heard of FETAC (and HETAC). They have now become Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI, www.qqi. ie) and are awarded at a level corresponding to the National Framework of Qualifications.
Teagasc College Ballyhaise
The Teagasc College Ballyhaise in Co Cavan has provided forestry training since 1988. The forestry courses available include fulltime QQI certified Level 5 and 6 courses, and short skills courses. A forestry qualification from Ballyhaise College has provided the opportunity for many students to develop wide ranging and interesting careers.
The full time, one year Level 5 forestry course is designed for people who intend to take up employment in the forest industry as trained and accredited operatives.
This course provides a broad introduction to all aspects of forestry and includes topics such as tree identification, forest soils, timber measurement, manual handling, tree planting, aftercare and protection.
The full time, two year Level 6 forestry course is aimed at people who want to work as forest supervisors or self-employed contractors. Course participants will be able to study a wide range of topics related to the forest industry including establishment, forest management and essential business skills.
Students are required to do work practice as part of all QQI courses. Registered hosts take on students to work and gain experience in a range of forestry operations. Ballyhaise graduates are eligible to transfer to Year 2 of WIT’s forestry degree programme.